Bed Bug Heat Treatment Preparation
Heat can work when it reaches sustained lethal temperatures in the places bed bugs actually hide. Preparation is what prevents cool pockets, wasted rental time, and “it felt hot but didn’t work.”
The Goal of Preparation
Quick Prep Checklist
Remove Heat-Sensitive Items
- Aerosol cans, pressurized containers, and flammables
- Medicines, cosmetics, candles, and wax-based items
- Electronics that aren’t rated for high heat (when in doubt, remove)
- Pets, plants, and anything living
If you’re unsure about an item, remove it. Heat is safe when planned, but sensitive items can warp or fail.
Open and Stage Contents
- Open drawers, closets, and cabinet doors
- Spread out piles; avoid tightly packed stacks
- Stand mattresses/box springs to expose seams and edges
- Move furniture slightly off walls to prevent cold seams
Dense, packed rooms absorb heat and create cool zones. Spacing improves airflow and penetration.
Airflow Setup That Prevents Cool Zones
What You’re Trying to Avoid
- Hot ceiling + cool corners
- Cold pockets behind couches, dressers, and headboards
- Unheated closet corners and clutter stacks
- Edges and baseboards staying cooler than the room air
What to Do Instead
- Create clear air paths into corners and along walls
- Angle fans so air moves behind and around furniture
- Keep doors open inside the treated zone
- Stage items so heated air can pass through—not just around
Power Planning
If your treatment area is larger, heavily furnished, or compartmentalized, power planning matters more than people expect. When in doubt, choose planning over guessing.
What to Do Right Before Heating Starts
- Final sweep: remove remaining heat-sensitive items
- Open drawers/doors and stage furniture off walls
- Set airflow paths: fans aimed at edges, seams, and behind furniture
- Place monitoring points in harder-to-heat areas (not only the center)
- Confirm entry/exit plan and vacate the space during heating
Heat works when sustained lethal temperatures are reached where bugs hide. Monitoring and airflow are what make that true.
What This Page Does Not Replace
This checklist is practical guidance, not a substitute for reading all rental instructions and safety notes. For the full “how the method works” explanation, see: /bed-bug-heat-treatment/.